1987 HIGH SCHOOL WATER POLO PREVIEW : Thousand Oaks Hopes to Mount a Royal Challenge

No matter how hard you look, you will not see a white flag flapping high above Rancho Simi Community Park, site of the normally unflappable Royal High water polo team.

The team has been a fixture in the Southern Section playoffs since Steve Snyder took over the program in 1980. But Snyder doesn’t talk like a man who has led teams to six consecutive Marmonte League championships. Instead, he sounds like his team will be just another challenger.

“If the Boston Celtics can’t repeat,” he said, “then I guess we can’t either.”

In fact, Snyder has cast Thousand Oaks as this season’s high school water polo equivalent of the world champion Lakers.

Thousand Oaks Coach Juan Bowen doesn’t accept Snyder’s hyperbole.

“Steve, I think, is pulling a little bit of a psych job,” said Bowen, who begins his fourth year as coach. “Royal is the defending champ, so I think they are the team to beat.”

A 10-year-old program, Royal was 2-36 before Snyder took over in 1980. After a 9-9 season in the third year, Royal has known nothing but league championships.

“We don’t have as strong a team and we don’t have as fast a team as we’ve had in three or four years,” Snyder said, “and I’m concerned about that.”

Two-meter man Greg Frazier, who was the league’s player of the year and a second-team All-Southern Section selection, and all-league goalie Todd Jacobson have both graduated. They will be replaced by juniors Steve Robinson and Dennis Bevins.

Other projected starters include seniors Brian Hermanson, Jim Robinson, Gary Smith, Mike Onoye and Rich Knapp. Senior Randy Rainbolt also is expected to contribute. But despite the lineup of seniors, the team is inexperienced.

“I think on paper and looking at their personnel, Thousand Oaks is better than we are,” Snyder said.

Recent history, however, does not favor Thousand Oaks.

The Lancers slumped badly in their final three matches last season. With the championship seemingly in hand, they lost to Newbury Park and then at home to Royal to finish 8-2 in league. Thousand Oaks continued the slide with a first-round exit from the Southern Section playoffs.

There are better ways to spend the off-season than mulling over a three-game losing streak, but three steps backward may--in this case--be worth one giant leap forward, Bowen said.

“We were in the driver’s seat last year,” he said. “I’ll use that experience if the players get cocky this season.”

The Lancers lost five players--but only one starter--from last season’s team.

Three players who were first team all-league and another who was selected to the second team will return. The foursome of goalie Paul Snyder and drivers Lance Smith, Kevin Shiotani and Rob Ashmore provide speed and experience and lend credence to Snyder’s concern.

OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH

Crespi--Coach Jeff Thornton’s teams have not missed the Southern Section playoffs in his four seasons with the program. Despite losing all seven starters from last season, Crespi (13-7 overall, 8-2 in league) should challenge defending league champion St. John Bosco and Loyola for the Del Rey League championship.

Crespi’s starters include senior goalie Ed Beron, and senior drivers Chris Terhar and Eric Dolce, a left-hander. Said Notre Dame Coach John Barnett of Dolce: “A lefty is a gold commodity in water polo. It’s tough to stop it.”

Also projected to start are junior hole player Tom Woiwode and junior driver Chris Gallaudet, a transfer from Westlake. Thornton said the influence of football player Russell White has reached the water polo program. Crespi’s freshman-sophomore team drew 13 freshmen, almost three times the average. “The whole school wants to play a sport,” Thornton said.

Calabasas--Goalie Scott Humphrey and field players Jeff Bell, Joey Everett, Richard McCarty and Kevin Shaffer all are returning senior starters from a team that was runner-up to Frontier League champion Harvard last season.

“I think we could probably have the best team we’ve ever had, because we have the most experienced seniors,” Coach Dave Hershman said. “It’s whether they really want to be champions.”

The Coyotes have never advanced past the second round of the Southern Section playoffs in water polo. “We can do it this year,” said Hershman, who is beginning his 11th season. “We have the talent.”

As for the Frontier League race, Hershman narrows the field to Calabasas and Harvard, but in the end: “I think we should win league.”

Harvard--The Saracens have set a lofty goal after being bounced in sudden death by Redondo in the second round of last season’s playoffs. “We’re looking toward winning CIF,” assistant coach Steve Shaw said. “If we only look at winning league, that’s as far as we’ll go.”

Harvard has scheduled traditional powers such as Santa Monica and Redondo for regular-season matches. “We have a lot tougher schedule outside of league this year,” he said. “That’s the only way we’re going to get better.”

Top players returning from last season include senior hole player Peter Richards, senior driver Gregg Magnuson, junior driver Damon Willick and sophomore goalie Larry Burcket.

Notre Dame: Intelligence and a solid work ethic may be Notre Dame’s strong points, Coach John Barnett said. “Overall, we’re a little bit smaller than we have been in the past and a little bit slower,” he said. “But this seems to be a harder-working and more intelligent group than in the past.”

Three starters return in senior drivers Danny Ryan and Brad Craccholia and senior hole man Jim Klipfel. Part-time starter Chris Matthews should be a full-time driver this season.

Barnett expects his team to reach the playoffs with three or four juniors in the regular lineup. Notre Dame finished 3-7 in the Del Rey League last season, 10-10 overall.

Burbank--The buzz word for the Bulldogs this season is depth.

“This year I have a very solid starting lineup, and three or four players on the bench could fill in with no drop-off at all,” said Sergio Cervantes, who begins his fifth season as coach.

Cervantes expects a third trip to the playoffs. The Bulldogs will challenge San Marino, South Pasadena and Temple City in the Rio Hondo League, which also includes Burbank’s cross-town rival Burroughs. Team MVP Garrett Nelson, who scored 60 goals last season, returns as the hole man. He’s joined by senior goalie Jeret Doiron and four juniors from last season’s 5-12 team.